Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro

For Tennessee families looking at practical nursing programs, TCAT-Murfreesboro delivers solid value with manageable risk. The school's graduates earn $44,555 in their first year—outpacing the state median by about $5,000 and ranking in the 60th percentile among Tennessee's 29 practical nursing programs. With debt of just $10,723 (a 0.24 ratio to first-year earnings), students can realistically pay this off within months rather than years, even on an LPN's starting salary.

The gap between TCAT-Murfreesboro and the state's top programs is worth noting—TCAT Nashville and Chattanooga College grads earn $6,000-7,000 more annually. However, those higher earnings may not justify choosing a more distant program when this school already positions graduates $5,000 ahead of typical Tennessee LPNs. The relatively low debt burden matters more than marginal earnings differences when you're entering a field where every paycheck counts immediately.

This program works best for students who need affordable, efficient healthcare training without the time and cost commitment of an RN degree. Nearly half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the school successfully serves working-class families. The moderate sample size gives reasonable confidence in these numbers, and the debt-to-earnings ratio is strong enough that location and job placement support should drive your decision more than financial concerns.